Abstract

About one out of three cancer patients experience psychosocial problems, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. The use of screening instruments can be useful for the identification of psychosocial problems. The research focused on the effects of using the Dutch Screening Inventory of Psychosocial Problems (SIPP) for the identification of psychosocial problems in cancer patients receiving radiotherapeutic treatment. The research shows that using a screening tool in itself is not sufficient. By using the SIPP, the number of patients that were referred to psychosocial care providers had not increased and the communication between patient and radiotherapist had not improved. However, the results show that patients are referred to a social worker at an earlier stage, which appears to have a favourable effect on some health related outcomes. Providing successful psychosocial care in the radiotherapeutic institutions is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This research was financed by the KWF.

title = "Ray of light : evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of routine psychosocial screening in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy",

abstract = "About one out of three cancer patients experience psychosocial problems, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. The use of screening instruments can be useful for the identification of psychosocial problems. The research focused on the effects of using the Dutch Screening Inventory of Psychosocial Problems (SIPP) for the identification of psychosocial problems in cancer patients receiving radiotherapeutic treatment. The research shows that using a screening tool in itself is not sufficient. By using the SIPP, the number of patients that were referred to psychosocial care providers had not increased and the communication between patient and radiotherapist had not improved. However, the results show that patients are referred to a social worker at an earlier stage, which appears to have a favourable effect on some health related outcomes. Providing successful psychosocial care in the radiotherapeutic institutions is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This research was financed by the KWF. ",

N2 - About one out of three cancer patients experience psychosocial problems, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. The use of screening instruments can be useful for the identification of psychosocial problems. The research focused on the effects of using the Dutch Screening Inventory of Psychosocial Problems (SIPP) for the identification of psychosocial problems in cancer patients receiving radiotherapeutic treatment. The research shows that using a screening tool in itself is not sufficient. By using the SIPP, the number of patients that were referred to psychosocial care providers had not increased and the communication between patient and radiotherapist had not improved. However, the results show that patients are referred to a social worker at an earlier stage, which appears to have a favourable effect on some health related outcomes. Providing successful psychosocial care in the radiotherapeutic institutions is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This research was financed by the KWF.

AB - About one out of three cancer patients experience psychosocial problems, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. The use of screening instruments can be useful for the identification of psychosocial problems. The research focused on the effects of using the Dutch Screening Inventory of Psychosocial Problems (SIPP) for the identification of psychosocial problems in cancer patients receiving radiotherapeutic treatment. The research shows that using a screening tool in itself is not sufficient. By using the SIPP, the number of patients that were referred to psychosocial care providers had not increased and the communication between patient and radiotherapist had not improved. However, the results show that patients are referred to a social worker at an earlier stage, which appears to have a favourable effect on some health related outcomes. Providing successful psychosocial care in the radiotherapeutic institutions is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This research was financed by the KWF.